Mark Bonner felt Gillingham found ‘really good level’ in rout over Carlisle

Posted Sunday, August 11, 2024 by PA

Gillingham boss Mark Bonner paid tribute to his razor-sharp side as they put Carlisle to the sword with a thumping 4-1 opening-day home win.

Goals from Tim Dieng, Jacob Wakeling, debutant Jack Nolan and Jonny Williams did the damage as the Gills started the season in fine style, with Jon Mellish responding for the visitors.

“We’re really pleased because they are a tough team and it was a tough first game,” praised Bonner.

“There’s one or two players that have played that we’ve pushed into the team and we’ve changed the profile of the team around.

“But the boys have dug in and found a really good level at times in the game.

“We had moments where we found it difficult, obviously, against a good side.

“But if you’d have offered us this result at the start of the day we’d have been chewing your arm off for it.

“It’s a really good start for us, game one, but there’s loads for us to get back, which is normal.

“The lads are delighted, as they should be, and now 45 more (games) to go.

“The atmosphere was good – and I think it will get better.

“The connection with the team and this place (Priestfield Stadium) will be bouncing if we get it right.

“There will be even more people here if we get it right, the noise level will get even better as the season goes on.

“But for people to come out and see us score four goals, I think is really important.

“We want to break lots of myths which exist in this team. We want to build our own little record as we go.

“To score four goals was excellent, I think the supporters enjoyed what they saw.

“The third goal was so important, when we got it it killed them.”

Carlisle boss Paul Simpson was understandably frustrated with the defeat.

He said: “Anybody who was not here today will think we’ve been absolutely battered, however, that’s not true and not fair.

“I thought our performance was better than the scoreline but the scoreline is a massive kick in the teeth and one which we’ve got to learn from.

“This isn’t an easy place to come. We conceded a goal early but I thought the reaction after that was excellent.

“I thought we played really well in the first half and created opportunities.

“Maybe we should have got ourselves an equaliser but although it didn’t happen we were still in the game at half-time.

“I was pleased with the way we’d gone about things and I said (to the players) ‘keep doing the same things, keep playing when it was on’.

“But we just weren’t able to get that equaliser and their second goal at the start of the second half just absolutely knocks the stuffing out of us.

“It’s a silly mistake which cost us, it was a momentary lapse of concentration and then we give the ball away and we’re scrambling around.

“We got ourselves back into it at 2-1 but their third goal was disappointing, you can’t let someone like Nolan cut inside with his left foot. We’ve got to send him down the line.

“He gets half a yard and he smashes it in with real power. Then their fourth goal, we’ve got seven against three back there and Williams scores with a great strike from the edge (of the box).”